Hammer-position indicator



April 12.1921. 1,624,878

L. P. SMITH HAMMER P08 ITION INDI GATOR Filed Auz. 27, 1925 FIG. 1

LOUIS P. SMITH, 'OF ITHAOA, NEW YORK,

ITHACA, NEW' YORK, A COBIPORATIONOF .NEW YORK.

ASSIGNOR TO I'IHACA. GUN COMPANY, OF

IiIAMMER-POSITION INDICATOR.

Application filed August 27, 1925.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hammer position indicators.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a hammer position indicator of a type wherein an indicator element will be projected into a visible position when the hammer is cocked and will disappear from view when the hammer is fired.

A. further object of the invention is the provision of a hammer position indicator which may be used on a single or a double barrel type of gun.

Other objects and advantages of the 1nvention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational View of the frame portion of a gun and illustrates a hammer position indicator mechanism and a safety mechanism position indicator,

Figure 2 illustrates in rear elevation a pair of hammer position indicators associated with a double barrel type of gun,

Figure 3 is a detail side elevational view of a hammer position indicator mechanism shown in full lines in the position assumed when the hammer associated therewith is in its lired position and in dotted lines for illustrating the movement of the indicator mechanism when the hammer is cocked, and

Figure at is an elevational view taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 5 designates the frame portion of a firearm which includes a top tang 6. Journaled at its upper end in the frame and tang is a post 7 which is operated by the top lever 8. This post 7 has projecting laterally from its flattened face 8 a pin 9 which operatively engages the depending hook portion 10 of an operating rod 11 which has extending thru the rear end of the same the depending portion 12 of a safety mechanism operating button 13. This operating button 13 has its depending portion 12 operatively connected to a lever 14: which actuates a safety mechanism, not shown, which is employed for locking the hammer or hammers Serial No. 52,894.

in its cocked position. The operating button 13 has a tail portion 13 which is slidably associated withthetop face of the tang 6 and is intended to expose and conceal a danger signal 15 embedded in the top tang. Thisdanger signal 15 is to-be exposed when the safetyoperating button "is in its hammer v unlocking position and to be concealed from View when the safety operating button 13 is in its hammer locking position, thereby producing a danger signal which will inclica t-e, when exposed, that the pulling of the trigger or triggers of the gun will fire the hammer or hammers.

Extending transversely thru the frame 5 1s a, fulcrum pin 16 which has mounted thereon, depending upon whether the frame 5 is a double barrel or single barrel type of gun frame, one or two indicator operating levers 17, two of such levers are illustrated in Fig. 2 which shows in dotted lines a double barrel type of shot gun. These levers 17 are each provided with an operating arm 18 having a camming surface 19 at its upper end which is offset from the fulcrum pin 16. This camming surface 19 projects between the furcations 20 of the bifurcated end of the indicator pin 21 which is slid-ably mounted within a suitable opening in the gun frame 5. The operating arm 18 of the indicator lever 17 is operatively associated with the hammer 23, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Surrounding the indicator pin 21 and bearing at its opposite ends againstthe gun frame 5 and the bifurcated end of the'pin 21 is a tension spring 24.

The operation of the indicator mechanism may be described as follows In Fig. l the hammer 23 is shown in its fired position and the indicator lever 17 is illustrated in a position for permitting the spring 24 to retract the indicator pin 21 so that its outer end will not project beyond the gun frame 5. The indicator pin 21 at the left of Fig. 2 is in the position just described. W'hen the hammer 23 is pivoted upon its supporting pin 23, the indicator lever 17 will be moved into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. This pivotal movement of the lever 17 will cause the outer end of the indicator pin 21 to be projected from the frame 5 so that it will be clearly visible, as illustrated in connection with the right hand indicator in Fig. 2. It will now be apparent, that when the hammer 23 is ltlb fired, the spring 24 will function to return the indicator pin to its concealed position.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thusdescribed the invention, 1 claim In a gun structure, the combination with a gun frame, and a hammer carried by the frame, of a lever pivoted upon a transverse horizontal axis in the frame in a position to be moved by the hammer when cocked and to be freed when the hammer is fired, a vertically slidable indicator element carried by the frame and adapted to be moved upwardly through the top of the frame into an exposed position by the lever when the latter is moved by the shifting of the hammer to its cocked position, and yieldable means to move said indicator element downwardly into the frame in a concealed position when the lever is freed by the firing of the hammer and to simultaneously return the lever to a position in the path of cocking movement of the hammer.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

' LOUIS P. SMITH. 

